The Latest At Fairfield

Fairfield head coach Jay Young resigned from his position, the school announced on Monday.

Leadership Transition for Fairfield Men’s Basketball
https://t.co/z187Ppa2r0

— Fairfield Men’s Basketball (@FairfieldMBB) October 16, 2023

The Scoop

In addition to Young’s resignation, Fairfield assistant coaches Bryan Dougher and James Johns were also disciplined. Dougher was let go and Johns was placed on administrative leave, multiple sources confirmed. The school did not issue a formal statement on the status of either assistant coach. Chris Casey will take over as interim head coach.

The university reportedly opened an investigation into the program following the team’s foreign tour to Costa Rica. University officials interviewed coaches, players and staff about an alleged incident involving one of the assistant coaches. One source familiar with the situation said Dougher and Young were not present at the time of the incident, but their actions after the investigation started ultimately led to their dismissals. Johns remains on leave and it’s unclear if he will return to the team this season.

Job Outlook & Potential Candidates

Heading into the season, Fairfield has a roster talented enough to finish in the top third of the MAAC. Chris Casey can earn the job outright if he can navigate the Stags to a successful season as the interim.

Fairfield’s investment in the basketball program has turned it into one of the premier jobs in the league. The school opened a sparkling new arena last season and they have a strong enough NIL collective to compete with other mid-majors. If the administration decides Casey isn’t the long term solution, they will have plenty of qualified candidates to choose from.

Luke Murray (UConn assistant)

Luke Murray was a finalist for the position last time it opened. He’ll likely be one of the first calls this time around. Murray graduated from Fairfield in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country. The Stags could do a lot worse for a first-time head coach.

Kimani Young (UConn associate head coach)

Murray’s counterpart Kimani Young is another name to watch. Young has strong ties throughout the northeast and has made a major impact on Dan Hurley’s staff at UConn. The major question here is whether or not Young’s salary prices him out of this job.

Ivan Thomas (Georgetown associate head coach)

Ivan Thomas broke into the college ranks in 2015 after nearly two decades in high school ball and AAU. Thomas ran the very successful Boo Williams program and has plenty of connections along the east coast.

Joe Gallo (Merrimack head coach)

If the Stags are looking for head coaching experience, Joe Gallo is a name to watch. The Merrimack head coach has masterfully guided the Warriors through their D1 transition and is deserving of a higher profile opportunity.

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